Automatic seat pre-adjustment from Johnson Controls enhances vehicle safety and comfort / Developers have validated pre-adjustment technology with more than 100 test subjects (FOTO)

Burscheid, Germany (ots) -

Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company with
established core businesses in the automotive, building and energy
storage industries, has developed an automatic seat pre-adjustment
system that brings the driver's seat into a comfortable and safe
position based on an individual's size.

"Many people do not position their vehicle seat correctly. This
can lead to back pain and stiff legs, particularly during longer
journeys," said Andreas Eppinger, group vice president technology
management at Johnson Controls Automotive Seating. "The right seat
adjustment is important for safety. This relates not only to the
effectiveness of the head restraints, but also to the interaction
with the airbags and safety belts. Therefore, we have developed a
technology that allows vehicle seats to easily be pre-adjusted
automatically."

Automatic pre-adjustment of the seat position is especially useful
when more than one person drives the same vehicle. This applies to
family cars that are driven by more than one family member as well as
to vehicles in company fleets and from rental companies and
car-sharing service providers.

The ergonomics specialists at Johnson Controls developed an
algorithm that determines the optimal seat position based on the
driver's size. Based on this algorithm, the adjustment motors
automatically move the seat to a position that is both comfortable
and safe for the respective individual. In some cases, the driver may
still need to fine-tune the seat position to suit his personal
preferences.

The experts from Johnson Controls examined the seat positions of
more than 100 people.

"We discovered that correct positioning of the seat track cannot
be derived directly from leg length, nor from height adjustment of
the seat derived directly from the torso length. Rather, the human
body is more like a complex system. If you change one parameter, this
has an impact on other variables," explained Eppinger. "We were able
to program the algorithm so that size was sufficient as the decisive
adjustment criteria. This enabled very precise default adjustment
that was rated as good by the participants in the series of tests we
performed. Following minor manual readjustment, they rated the
position as very good."

A large majority of the test group found the pre-adjustment
technology to be convenient and user-friendly.

To operate the system, Johnson Controls has developed an app that
allows drivers to input their size via smartphone. Alternatively,
this information can easily be entered into the vehicle's digital
control console. It is also possible for an on-board camera to
automatically measure body size before the driver even enters the
vehicle and for the seat to move into the correct position.

It is also conceivable that the driver's size could be stored in
the customer profile for rental cars and car-sharing services. This
information would be forwarded to the vehicle upon hire so that the
seat can be adjusted before the driver enters the car.

"Connectivity in vehicles means far more than just access to the
Internet and email. By networking the vehicles, comfort and safety
can also be increased. The automatic seat preadjustment is a good
example of intelligent interfaces between humans and machines," said
Eppinger.

Digital images are available online from
www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/press.

Follow Johnson Controls Automotive Seating on Twitter: @JCseating

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial
leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000
employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize
energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid
automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric
vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to
sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of
the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and
by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to
shareholders and making our customers successful.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience

Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating,
overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior
electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation
of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced
manufacturing capabilities. With 240 locations worldwide, we are
where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort
and style of our products, from single components to complete
interiors. With our global capability we supply approximately 50
million cars per year.

For more information, please contact:
Johnson Controls GmbH
Automotive Seating
Industriestraße 20-30
51399 Burscheid

Oliver Herkert
Tel.: +49 2174 65-4348
E-Mail: oliver.herkert@jci.com

Internet: www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk